To travel you do not have to wait for the time you go on vacation. Even on a workweek, there is a time for a trip. To diversify your weekends and to get new impressions and emotions you can make a fantastic trip embracing our programme "short breaks".

Take your friends or family, choose up to three cities you want to visit and make a fabulous journey. In this weekend tour, you can stay for a one or two nights in the places you have chosen. You can be on excursions exploring and admiring the cities during the whole day and enjoy breathtaking views of the places recollecting bright moments of your trip at night. From dawn till night you will be able to see how the cities and everything around you change. Morning day will present the architecture and the landscape in sunlight glory while night will show transformed buildings and streets sinking in illumination.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to souvenirs from Russia? Of course, it is matryoshka, balalaika, vodka and caviar. Oh, and a hat with ear flaps as well! However, the ear flap hat is now in vogue, and has ceased to be such a rarity, vodka can be bought almost anywhere in the world.

Numerous souvenir shops are vying to sell magnets, mugs and T-shirts with slogans and thematic images (flag and coat of arms of Russia, funny sayings, bears, portraits of politicians and well-known writers), sailor's striped vests, as well as handicrafts. Khokhloma, Gzhel, enamel, birch amulets and Vologda lacework… the assortment is huge! But when you make purchases, don’t lower your guard.
Some unscrupulous sellers may try to sell you cheaper and substandard imitations. Of course, most of the shops have certificates for their goods and buy them directly from factories and workshops.
To help you not to get lost in all this colorful variety and tell how and where it is better to buy particular products, we have prepared separate articles for you on Russian folk crafts.

It makes sense to look for more valuable and rare souvenirs in antique shops.
Old coins, porcelain figurines of the Soviet era, icons, clocks, badges, decorations - one does not know where to look first!
But even here there are potential pitfalls. Apart from the fact that the seller may seriously inflate the price of what you want to buy, arguing that it is older or more valuable than it really is, there may be problems taking it out of the country.

As of today, it is prohibited to take any items of cultural value (books, figurines, icons, pictures, etc.), created prior to January 1, 1964 out of the country.

Important note: items of cultural value do not include cultural goods of serial and mass production, or modern souvenirs.

However, sometimes even an item of mass production manufactured over fifty years ago may attract the close attention of the customs service. If you want to protect yourself from unforeseen delays and undesired proceedings (the item is likely to stay with you, which, alas, cannot be said of your nerve cells), you can send the purchase to your own address by mail, after packing it carefully to avoid damage. Make sure that the package has a warning sign if the item is fragile.

Are you a little confused with all this information? Our team members are always ready to help you navigate all the rules, addresses, products and prices!

You will definitely find something to your liking and within your budget with all the variety of great Russian souvenirs!

Smolensk, a City of the Russian Glory

Smolensk is an ancient city on the Dnieper River, the western outpost of Russia. Sightseeing tour of the city. You will see the amazing monuments of architecture and monuments to remarkable people. Holiday dinner. A visit to the Holy Assumption Cathedral. Countryside guided tour to Talashkino. Excursion to the museum of the sculpture of Sergey Konenkov.

14:30 Sightseeing tour of the central part of the city, "Smolensk, the City of Russia’s Glory." Along the tour, tourists will get acquainted with the city-hero of Smolensk that is over 11 centuries old, stands on the banks of the Dnieper River. They will see the amazing monuments of architecture of the XII century, the Smolensk’s fortress wall, places related to the defense of the city in 1609 -1611, and monuments to remarkable people: Mikhail Glinka, Fiodor Kon, Mikhail Kutuzov, Mikhail Yegorov, Alexandr Twardowski and his literary hero Vasily Terkin.

16:00-17:30 Entertainment program "The Traditions of Beverage from Rus to Russia". The tour will take place in a creative workshop "The Smolensk Log Hut" and will be dedicated to the Russian vodka. "Gambrinus" and "Bacchus" - these words will become clear and simple during the narrative and an informative tasting (with a light snack) of local drinks produced by the local factory. The tour will end with a cup of tea with barankas (bagels).

18:00 - 20:00 Spare time. On New Year's Eve the central part of the city turns into a fairy tale: snow-covered parks, silence and a coniferous aroma. Give yourself this time as a gift!

20:00 Holiday dinner with a show “New Year’s Eve Miracles Come True!” The program includes live music, guest stars, oriental sweets, dance master-classes, and much more!

A bottle of wine or champagne per couple is guaranteed (please specify your preferred beverage when booking). New Year’s Greetings by Ded Moroz and Snegurochka!

Spare time in the city center

2nd Day

10:00 Late breakfast in the hotel. A pleasant surprise: a dish from the chef with the symbol of the year.

12:00 Countryside parties. The program includes riding in horse-drawn carriages, fito bar, hot wine punch and mead in the open air, a visit to a bird farm. You will be definitely lucky and you will find a horseshoe for good luck.

Excursion "The Cathedral Hill". A visit to the Holy Assumption Cathedral. Tune yourself up to the beauty in the new year inside the walls of the spiritual center of Smolensk.

17:00 Late lunch.

Spare time

3d Day

8:30 - 09:30 Breakfast. Check out.

11.00 Countryside guided tour to Talashkino. Today all surviving buildings of the former Tenishevs’ manor are included in the historical and architectural complex "Teremok" of the Smolensk State Museum-Reserve. And everyone who has been here once will want to return, each time discovering something new.

13:30 Lunch in a tsar’s style in the city center.

14:30 Excursion to the museum of the sculpture of Sergey Konenkov. A master class at a potter's wheel.

16:00 Transfer to the train station.

Children are allowed from 5 years of age or older.

The price includes: hotel accommodation, meals according to the program, excursions according to the program, museums tickets.

Extra charge: train tickets “Moscow-Smolensk-Moscow”.

Note: The Company reserves the right to modify the program without changing the scope of the services provided. In case of late arrival or no-show the Company reserves the right to modify the sequence of the program without changing the scope of the services provided. The duration of the program’s individual elements can be changed on the eve of the departure or during the tour. Elements of the program dependent on climatic conditions or actions of authorities and organizations beyond the control of the organizer (traffic, local administration, etc.), can be excluded from the program, according to the actual situation on the route. In case of late arrival or no-show of the tourists at the place of the meeting of the group at the specified time, the company is not liable for the fulfillment of the entire program and the payment for the tour day in question is not refundable.